Gov't warns of rising cyber threats

Cabinet Secretary for Information, Communications and the Digital Economy William Kabogo has warned that Kenya’s digital economy faces growing cyber risks and urged stronger coordination among government agencies, industry players and global partners.

In a speech read by his PS at the opening of the 2025 National Cybersecurity Conference and FIRST Technical Colloquium at the Mövenpick Hotel, Nairobi, the CS said the country must reinforce its cyber-defences as digital services expand nationwide.

“Cybersecurity is now the backbone of our digital economy,” Mr Kabogo said.

“Our government systems, e-commerce, financial services and public platforms must be safe, resilient and trusted. The threats are evolving, and Kenya cannot afford disruptions.”

He said only collective action can protect the country’s digital infrastructure.

“We must work together to strengthen our cyber resilience, share threat intelligence and align with global standards,” he said.

Principal Secretary for Broadcasting and Telecommunications Stephen Isaboke said Kenya is implementing policy reforms and skills development initiatives to improve national cyber readiness.

“This conference is not just about ideas,” Mr Isaboke said.

“It is about developing practical solutions that enhance threat-intelligence sharing and build industry capacity.”

The meeting brings together cybersecurity experts, incident-response teams, policymakers, researchers, private-sector leaders and representatives from the Forum of Incident Response and Security Teams (FIRST).

Delegates from Africa, Europe, Asia and North America are discussing emerging malware trends, cloud-security gaps, artificial-intelligence risks and regional cooperation on cyber incidents.

A FIRST representative praised Kenya’s leadership in cyber governance, saying the partnership “strengthens Africa’s preparedness and deepens cooperation in responding to cross-border cyberattacks.”

Mr Kabogo also emphasized the need to invest in youth to sustain Kenya’s digital transformation.

“Our young people must be equipped with the digital skills needed to thrive in a fast-changing technology environment,” he said.

Technical recommendations from the meeting are expected to inform future national cyber-policy and resilience strategies.